The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-10


dent ever did before viz, presented an
exaggerated and sensational statement of the
government finances, and represented to the
country and the world that we are in imminent
danger of financial panic. He says the sit
uation, meaning the Treasury surplus
"presages financial CONFUSION and wide
spread disaster" that it is ''fraught with dan
ger which should be fully realized" and
actually hints at "a time when an abused and
irritated people" may take things into their
own hands. Such language as this from
President of the United States could only be
justified by public danger at once real and
imminent That the present situation does
not involve such danger nor any approach to
it, is evidenced by the fact that even the
Presidents sensational message has failed TO
disturb business in the least or to excite any
apprehension among business men. The
bankers, capitalists. merchants, manufacture
ers and business men of the country, intelli-
gent, far-sighted and proverbially conserva-
tive, are not at all alarmed by the Presidents
pessimistic views and gloomy predictions in
regard to the business situation. They know
better. This dark picture of impending dis
aster is part Of the Presidents Sensational
scheme for forcing the tariff issue to the front
and making it the overshadowipg if not the
only issue in the next campaign. Well, it is
an important issue, and the Republican party
will gladly meet the Democracy on the ques-
R,,t
must be remembered that it is not the only
important question in American politics. as
the President would imply by the remarkable
conspicuousness he gives it and by ignoring
all other questions. We do not underrate.its
Importance. but there is another question: of
even greater Importance We mean the
question whether true Republican government
shall be established in the Southern Statesand
whether the basis of congressional represen-
tation in the South shall be the same as in
the North. This is more important than stha
tariff question by as much as moral sentiment
is more important than money, and IS eternal
truth and justice are higher than dollars and
cents. It is fundamental question, for no
other legislation of Congress, can be just, or
ought to be binding, when the representa-
tives from one section Of the country are
elected on an entirely different basis of repre-
sentation from those in another section.
This is the paramount question before the
American people to-day-the question of
establishing and maint tanning Republican
government in all the States of the Union,
of enforcing equal rights. and of placing the
voting constituencies of the North and the
political power and representation. At pres
ent there are several Southern States where
Republican government does not exist, and
in some of which 1000 white voters have
the same representation in Congress that
10, 900 voters in Indiana have. Take Georgia,
for instance. That State has ten Representa-
tives in Congress. At the last election the
total number of votes cast for these ten Con-
gressmen was 27,473. The Seventh district
of Indiana alone cast a. GAG. Thus one con-
gressional district in Indiana cast II 900 more
votes than ten districts in Georgia, and Mr..
Bynum's vote, %, $50, was only 1900 less
than the total vote cast for the entire ten,
members from Georgia. Take the Sixth2
Indiana district, General Brownies. In the
last election the district cast 50, 755 votes, Of
which General Browne received 20, 397. Thus
it took 90 397 Republican votes in his district
to elect one Republican Congressman, while
%, $50 Democratic votes in Georgia elect ten
Congressman. This is scandalous state of
things and cannot continue Talk about the
danger of surplus in the treasury with such
facts these confronting US! Talk about any
question extinguishing all others when re-
publican government is overthrown, liberty
assassinated and the elective franchise turned
into farce! How long will the freemen of
the North submit to being dashed to the
wheels of the Southern Democratic chariot?
How long will the people of Indiana tolerate
the Infamous system that gives to every
white mans vote in Georgia more than ten
times the weight of one in Indiana? This is
the paramount question before the American
people to-day, and must continue to be until
it is settled basis of justice and equality.
This is the question that Mr.. Cleveland ig-
nores and endeavors to push out of sight and
out of mind. He may well seek to put it
down. 1t is the damned spot in American
politics that will not out. The Republican
party will meet the Democracy on the tariff
question, but it will not be diverted from
making the question of an equal ballot also
main question.
AGAIN has the law been twisted out Of